Severn Trent increases payout to shareholders despite its 60,000 sewage spills last year

Final dividend hiked by 9% amid anger over water firms making payouts to investors while polluting waterways

Severn Trent has increased its payout to shareholders despite being responsible for 60,000 sewage spills last year.

Severn hiked its final dividend by 9% to 70.1p a share after pre-tax profits swelled almost 20% to £201.3m in the year to the end of March.